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XOKTH    CAROLINIAN  A 


K  N  D  O  W  K  11       r.  Y 

JOHN     S  I^  RUNT     II  I  L  L 
of  the  class  of  1889 


AN  ADDRESS 


BY 


HON.  JAMES  E.  SHEPHERD 


ON  THE 


Life  and  Character  of  the  Late 


Judge  David  Schenck 


;livered  at  Guilford  Battle  Ground  on  the  Occasion, 
of  the  Unveiling  of  a  Monument  to  His 
Memory— July  4,  1904 


II  frD 


Published  by 

The  Guilford  Battle  Grotjnd  Co. 

Greenesboro,  N.  C. 


AN  ADDRESS 


BY 


HON.  JAMES  E  SHEPHERD 


ON  THE 


Life  and  Character  of  the  Late 


Judge  David  Schenck 


Delivered  at  Guilford  Battle  Ground  on  the  Occasion 

of  the  Unveiling  of  a  Monument  to  His 

Memory — July  4,  1904 


cr\  y  rro 


Published  by 

The  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Co. 

Greenesboro,  N.  C. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/addressonlifechaOOshep 


THE    ADDRESS 


Mr.  President,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen — 

From  the  busy  haunts  of  men,  from  the  din  and  bustle  of 
the  world,  with  all  its  restless  activities  and  selfish  strivings, 
where  the  highest  and  lowest  aspirations  "chase  each  other 
even  as  the  sunshine  and  the  shadow ' ' ;  from  out  of  the  weary 
scenes  of  conflicting  interests  and  classes,  and  often  unholy 
warfare  upon  each  other,  we  come  to  this  quiet,  hallowed  spot 
with  hearts  full  of  reverence,  to  commemorate  the  deeds  of 
those  who  fought  and  who  died  here  to  maintain  that  sublime 
declaration  of  human  rights  upon  which  this  great  Republic 
was  founded.  We  come  to  renew  our  allegiance  to  those  great 
principles,  sealed  with  the  blood  of  heroes,  and  to  seek  new 
inspiration  to  preserve  in  all  its  pristine  purity  and  glory  the 
priceless  legacy  they  have  bequeathed  us. 

To  those  who  stood  here  on  this  and  other  battlefields  this 
would  have  seemed  an  easy  thing  to  do.  Their  hearts  were 
glowing  with  the  fires  of  patriotism.  They  were  standing, 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  battling  against  the  most  powerful  nation 
on  earth,  for  the  noblest  cause  that  man  can  strive  for.  Theirs 
was  a  singleness  of  purpose,  born  only  of  a  common  cause  and 
a  common  danger.  All  other  considerations  and  interests 
sank  into  insignificance  before  the  majestic  shrine  of  Freedom, 
to  which  they  had  dedicated  their  lives,  their  fortunes,  and 
their  sacred  honor. 

"Then  none  was  for  a  party; 
Then  all  were  for  the  State: 
Then  the  great  man  helped  the  poor, 
And  the  poor  man  loved  the  great." 

It  is  in  such  crucial  hours  as  these  that  men  become  exalted 
and  seem  "to  overleap  the  destinies  of  their  mortal  state  and 
claim  a  kindred"  with  higher  beings.  It  is  in  the  cause  of 
freedom  and  the  defense  of  home  and  fireside  that  war,  with 
all  its  horrors,  is  glorified  by  the  sense  of  sacred  duty. 

"The  sword! — a  name  of  dread!  yet  when 
Upon  the  freeman's  thigh   'tis  bound — 
While  for  his  altar  and  his  hearth, 
While  for  the  land  that  gave  him  birth, 
The  war-drums  roll,  the  trumpets  sound — 

How  sacred  is  it  then! 
Whenever  for  the  truth  and  right 
It  flashes  in  the  van  of  fight — 


Whether  in  some  wild  mountain  pass, 

As  that  where  fell  Leoniilas: 

Or  on  some  sterile  [tkiin  and  stern — 

A  Marstou  or  a  Bannoekburn: 

Or  mill  fierce  crags  and  bursting  rills — 

The  Switzer's  Alps,  gray  Tyrol's  hills: 

Or,  as  when  sunk  the  Armada's  pride, 

It  gleams  above  the  stormy  tide: — 

Still,  still,  whene'er  the  battle's  word 

Is  Liberty — when  men  ilo  sta)id 

For  Justice  and  their  native  land — 

Then  Heaven   bless  the   sword!" 

Inspired  by  the  loftiest  sentiments  tliat  ean  animate  the 
hearts  of  men,  conscious  of  their  unselfishness  and  devotion, 
risking  all  and  daring  all,  these  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  could 
not  have  conceived  that  the  holy  fires  of  patriotism  could  ever 
grow  dim,  and  that  the  great  i)rinciples  for  which  they  gave 
their  blood  and  treasure  could  ever  be  endangered  by  the  baser 
passions  of  the  people.  It  is  true  that  even  they,  soon  after  the 
achievement  of  liberty,  met  with  great  difficulties  in  so  regu- 
lating its  exercise  as  to  prevent  it  from  degenerating  into 
license  and  anarchy,  and  in  chrystalizing  it  into  a  government 
under  which  freedom  in  the  highest  sense  might  l)e  preserved 
and  enjoyed.  But  these  difficulties  did  not  long  stand  in  the 
way.  The  same  unselfish  spirit  that  had  united  them  in  the 
dark  and  bloody  days  of  war,  was  now  to  show  itself  by  mutual 
concessions  and  sacrifices;  and  out  of  these  there  came  this 
great  American  Republic  and  its  wonderful  Constitution.  If 
this  same  spirit  could  now  prevail,  there  could  be  no  just 
apprehension  as  to  the  endurance  of  this,  the  greatest  experi- 
ment in  the  world's  history  of  republican  government. 

But  alas!  This  ideal  government  "of  the  people,  by  the 
people,  and  for  the  people ' ',  has  often  been  tried  and  as  often 
failed.  It  was  the  dream  of  Athens,  and  like  a  dream  it 
vanished.  It  was  for  years  a  glorious  realization  in  Rome,  but 
the  greed  and  corruption  of  accumulated  wealth  and  the 
demoralization  incident  to  extended  conquests  undermined  the 
great  principles  upon  which  it  was  founded,  and  it  fell  help- 
lessly into  the  arms  of  imperialism.  Today,  wuth  the  exception 
perhaps  of  Switzerland,  there  is  no  republican  government 
worthy  of  the  name  throughout  the  whole  of  enlightened 
Europe.  After  the  fearful  experience  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion, Europe  seems  to  have  concluded  that  the  people  are  inca- 
pable of  self-government  under  the  form  of  a  republic.  How 
startling  this  may  sound  to  an  American  citizen,  the  inheritor 
of   the   great   work   of   our   Revolutionary    fathers!     Yes,    it 


seems  to  have  been  the  fate  of  all  republics  that  as  they  grew  in 
population  and  wealth  and  territory,  these  very  elements  of 
progress  and  greatness  have  borne  within  them  the  germs  of 
destruction. 

Standing  here  then  today,  my  friends,  on  this  sacred  ground, 
and  celebrating  with  joyous  hearts  the  anniversary  of  this 
great  natal  day  of  Independence,  should  we  not  deeply  con- 
sider these  lessons  of  the  past  ?  Should  we  not  resolve  to  devote 
the  best  efforts  of  our  minds  and  hearts  to  reverse  what  seems 
to  be  the  verdict  of  history  ?  Should  we  not  swear  by  the  God 
of  our  Fathers  that  this  great  Republic  shall  not  pass  away,  but 
shall  continue  for  all  time  to  vindicate  to  all  the  world  the 
right  and  the  capacity  of  the  people  to  govern?  We  have 
many  difficulties  to  encounter,  many  grave  problems  to  solve. 
The  immense  increase  of  population,  the  infusion  of  a  large, 
ignorant,  and  untrained  foreign  element,  the  remarkable  devel- 
opment of  our  resources,  the  tremendous  activity  of  commer- 
cial and  industrial  agencies,  their  conflicting  character  and 
interests,  the  old  and  apparently  never-ending  strife  between 
combined  capital  and  labor,  the  greed  and  aggression  of  organ- 
ized wealth,  provoking  at  times  violent  resistance  to  law  and 
weakening  confidence  in  all  law  and  government,  the  acquisi- 
tion of  foreign  territory,  necessitating,  for  a  while,  at  least, 
government  contrary  to  the  genius  of  the  home  government, 
the  centralizing  tendencies  of  the  Federal  Government,  and, 
last  but  not  least,  the  never  silent  voice  of  the  demagog.  These 
and  many  others,  involving  profound  political  and  economic 
questions,  are  sufficient  to  excite  our  solicitude  and  demand  the 
exercise  of  our  highest  and  most  unselfish  consideration. 

Let  it  never  be  said  that  a  country  which  has  produced  a 
Washington,  a  Lee,  a  Jefferson,  and  a  Madison,  and  all  its 
brilliant  galaxy  of  soldiers  and  statesmen — soldiers,  who, 
whether  they  wore  the  gray  or  the  blue,  or  the  plain  homespun 
of  the  Revolution,  have  won  their  title  to  immortal  renown  by 
their  matchless  courage — statesmen  who,  as  Mr.  Gladstone 
said,  produced  a  constitution  "which  is  the  most  wonderful 
work  ever  struck  off  at  a  given  time  by  the  brain  and  purpose 
of  man ' ' — a  country  which  is  among  the  foremost  in  its  inven- 
tions, and  its  arts,  and  its  sciences ;  a  country  whose  flag  is 
respected  by  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  under  whose 
ample  folds  the  oppressed  and  down-trodden  of  all  lands  seek 
protection.  Let  it  never  be  said,  I  repeat,  that  such  a  country 
is  to  furnish  the  last  and  convincing  proof  of  the  incapacity  of 
the  people  for  self-government. 


True  there  is  much  to  discourage  us,  but  there  is  also  much 
in  our  favor :  and  by  the  blessings  of  God  we  shall  win !  We 
occupy  geographically  an  isolated  position,  and  I  trust  that  a 
sentiment  will  be  created  that  will  put  an  end  to  the  acqui- 
sition of  any  more  territory.  Conquest  of  territory,  with  the 
necessity  of  governing  it  by  unrepublican  forms  and  principles 
was,  says  ^Ir.  Froude,  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  fall  of  the 
great  Roman  Republic.  I  believe  that  the  people  will  realize 
the  dangerous  rocks  upon  which  we  are  drifting,  and  that  this 
great  menace  to  republican  institutions  will  not  long  be  con- 
tinued or  repeated.  We  must  avail  ourselves  of  our  isolated 
position  by  following  as  far  as  possible  the  parting  advice  of 
Washington,  to  avoid  entangling  alliances.  AVe  have  more 
than  enougli  to  engage  our  attention  at  home.  We  are  blessed 
with  a  great  heritage,  the  habitable  area  of  the  United  States 
being  about  2. 500, 000  square  miles,  with  a  capacity,  it  is  said, 
of  supporting  comfortably  400,000,000  inhabitants.  At  the 
present  ratio  of  increase,  our  population  would  approximate 
300,000,000  or  more  in  the  year  2,000.  Even  if  this  were  the 
natural  increase  of  the  existing  pojndation.  it  would  present  a 
serious  problem  for  the  future.  But  such  is  not  the  case.  A  very 
large  part  of  this  increase  is  due  to  foreign  immigration,  and  so 
lax  are  the  immigration  and  naturalization  laws  and  their 
administration,  that  a  most  dangerous  element  is  lieing  rapidly 
introduced  into  our  social  and  political  systems.  We  have  the 
power  to  prevent  this  practically  indiscriminate  immigration 
and  naturalization,  and  that  this  power  will  be  rigidly  exer- 
cised constitutes  one  of  the  strongest  hopes  of  the  Republic. 

We  have  much  to  hope  for  in  a  written  constitution,  which, 
if  properly  interpreted  by  the  Supreme  Court,  will  preserve 
the  autonomy  of  the  States :  and  in  the  preservation  of  this 
autonomy,  in  spirit  as  well  as  ni  form,  lies  the  great  barrier 
against  the  centralization  of  the  government  and  its  consequent 
destruction.  Again :  the  nature  of  our  land  laws  is  such  that 
great  freedom  and  facility  is  afforded  in  its  transfer,  and  its 
quantity  and  cheapness  enables  almost  every  industrious  citi- 
zen to  acquire  a  hcmie.  Every  title  deed,  it  is  said,  is  a  security 
for  the  public  jieaee.  It  is  one  of  the  strongest  ties  that  bind 
a  citizen  to  his  government,  and  a  potent  intluence  against 
agrarianism.  The  restriction  of  corporate  ownership  of  lands 
to  their  legal  limits  is  also  an  all-important  feature  of  our  laws. 
It  is  in  the  power  of  the  people  to  see  that  this  is  not  evaded, 
and  also  to  provide  further  laws  against  monopolies,  trusts, 
and  other  means  of  aggression  on  the  part  of  combined  wealth. 

6 


Another  feature  in  our  government  is  a  free  but  unlicensed 
press.  This  is  truly  the  life-blood  of  all  free  government,  and 
without  it  they  must  perish.  It  is  true  that  it  often  follows 
where  it  should  instruct  and  lead,  but  even  with  this  imperfec- 
tion its  freedom  is  the  palladium  of  Republican  government. 

Among  other  things,  and  not  the  least,  which  gives  us  hope, 
is  the  history  and  character  of  the  people  who  constitute  the 
dominating  political  force  in  our  country.  We  are  endued 
with  those  principles  of  liberty  dear  to  the  heart  of  every 
Anglo-Saxon,  but  which  were  denied  us  by  a  hostile  ministry 
under  George  the  Third.  These  principles  were  the  growth  of 
centuries.  The  downfall  of  the  Saxon  nobility  at  the  battle 
of  Hastings  elevated  the  middle  classes,  of  which  they  became 
a  part,  and  this  middle  class,  representing  the  democratic  ele- 
ment, was  courted  by  the  other  two  classes  represented  by  the 
King  and  the  Nobility.  So  that  these  three  political  elements 
were  developed  pari  'passu,  each  tempering  the  other,  and  thus 
producing  that  splendid  conservatism  for  which  the  English- 
speaking  people  are  noted. 

While  we  are  thus  disciplined  in  the  school  of  conservatism, 
there  nevertheless  exists  among  our  people  a  bold,  hardy,  inde- 
pendent spirit,  which  in  the  end,  if  necessary,  will  rise  in  its 
might  and  majesty,  and  resist  all  aggressions  of  one  class  or 
interest  against  another.  The  knowledge  of  the  existence  of 
this  spirit,  this  sleeping  giant  with  its  vast  physical  power, 
serves  as  a  warning  against  too  great  an  excess  of  class  greed 
and  selfishness.  It  plainly  says  that  there  is  a  point  to  which 
you  may  go  and  no  further.  This,  we  hope,  will  be  sufficient 
to  repress  such  evils.  Even  if  the  laws  should  be  evaded  or 
corruptly  administered  and  the  people  at  last  driven  to  force, 
it  will  not  be  the  blind  fury  of  the  undisciplined  French  Revo- 
lution, resulting  in  anarchy  and  despotism,  but  it  will  be  a 
force  conservatively  directed  to  restore  and  purely  administer 
the  government  of  their  adoption.  We  have  very,  very  much 
to  hope  for  in  this  great  characteristic  of  our  people.  We 
have  many  other  things  to  bid  us  hope,  such  as  the  educa- 
tion of  the  people  in  the  fundamental  principles  of  gov- 
ernment, so  that  they  may  appreciate  the  dignity  and 
responsibility  of  republican  citizenship.  There  must  of  course 
be  moral  education  also,  for  it  is  upon  the  great  moral 
principles  of  equality  and  justice  that  true  republics  are 
founded.  Above  all,  there  must  be  cherished  with  increasing 
devotion  the  memory  of  the  men  and  the  events  which  made 
this  free  government  possible.     The   scenes  of  their  heroic 


struggle  must  be  rescued  from  oblivion,  and  their  courage 
vindicated  against  the  aspersions  of  ignorance  or  malice.  Here 
and  there,  dotted  all  along  the  Atlantic  slope,  are  monuments 
erected  to  their  memory.  They  are  so  many  JMeccas  of  li))erty 
towards  which  thousands  of  pilgrims  turn  their  faces  on  every 
recurrence  of  this  illustrious  day.  He,  who  in  the  midst  of  the 
busy  pursuits  of  life,  devotes  his  best  energies  to  this  great 
work,  who  has  been  directly  instrumental  in  restoring  one  of 
these  battlefields,  and  who  has  successfully  vindicated  the 
conduct  of  those  who  fought  there,  is  not  only  an  educator  in 
the  highest  sense,  but  a  grand  patriot  whose  memory  a  grateful 
people  will  not  willingly  let  die.  It  is  in  honor  of  sucli  an  one 
that  this  beautiful  monument  is  unveiled  today. 

Descended  from  Swiss  ancestors,  who  were  exiled  because  of 
their  undaunted  adherence  to  the  principles  of  religious  free- 
dom. David  Schenck  was  born  in  Lincolnton,  North  Carolina, 
on  ]\Iarch  24,  1885.  Judge  Schenck  was  educated  at  the  High 
School  of  Silas  C.  Lindsay,  an  eminent  scholar,  studied  law 
with  Honorable  Haywood  C.  Guion,  and  graduated  at  the  Law 
School  of  Chief  Justice  Pearson.  He  began  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  1857.  and  his  promising  abilities  were  almost  innne- 
diately  recognized  by  the  County  of  Gaston,  where  he  had 
settled,  which  made  him  its  solicitor  in  the  following  year.  On 
the  25th  of  August,  1859,  he  was  married  to  Sallie  Wilfong 
Ramseur,  a  sister  of  the  distinguished  JMajor-General  Stephen 
D.  Ramseur,  who  was  mortally  wounded  while  gallantly  lead- 
ing his  men  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Rim,  Virginia.  She  is  still 
living,  lending  the  influence  of  her  sweet,  gentle.  Christian 
character  to  all  about  her.  Returning  to  Lincoln  County  in 
I860,  he  was  made  its  solicitor,  and  in  1861  was  elected  to  the 
State  Convention  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  election 
of  Honorable  Wm.  Landor  to  Congress.  This,  considering  his 
years  (he  was  the  youngest  member  of  that  body),  was  a  great 
honor,  and  indicates  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by 
the  people  of  his  native  county.  So  distinguished  were  his 
abilities  that  in  1874  he  was  nominated  and  elected  Superior 
Court  Judge  of  the  Ninth  Judicial  District.  In  1875,  the  Con- 
stitution was  amended  so  as  to  require  the  Judges  to  "rotate", 
and  in  this  way  the  whole  State  became  familiar  with  his  high 
judicial  qualities.  He  was  universally  regarded  as  a  man  of 
massive  intellect  and  rare  judicial  attainments.  The  demands 
of  a  large  family  compelled  him  to  resign,  and  in  1881,  he 
became  General  Counsel  of  the  Riclimond  and  Danville  Rail* 


road  system.  While  in  this  position,  he  was  tenaerecl  tne 
appointment  of  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  this 
State,  which  he  also  declined.  These  honors,  tog:ether  with  the 
degree  of  LL.D.  conferred  bj^  the  State  University  in  1878,  and 
honorary  membership  in  various  historical  societies  throughout 
the  Union,  were  most  richly  deserved. 

As  a  lawyer,  I  will  say  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  judicial 
reports  are  not  enriched  by  his  learning  and  remarkable  powers 
of  clear  exposition  and  vigorous,  logical  reasoning. 

He  removed  to  Greensboro  in  1882,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  the  end  of  his  useful  life.  Although  as  General 
Counsel  of  a  great  railway  system,  and  there  were  imposed 
upon  him  the  most  weighty  responsibilities,  he  neither  forgot 
or  neglected  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  and  a  citizen  of  old  North 
Carolina.  In  his  new  home  he  became  a  leader  in  all  that 
tended  to  its  moral  elevation  and  material  progress.  He  con- 
sented to  serve  as  a  town  commissioner,  and  it  is  said  that  his 
untiring  zeal  and  good  judgment  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
splendid  school  system  of  the  now  rising  City  of  Greensboro, 
and  its  many  improvements.  Upon  the  conclusion  of  his  ser- 
vice as  commissioner,  the  leading  paper  in  the  city,  voicing  the 
sentiments  of  its  people,  paid  him  the  following  tribute : 

'  *  The  beautiful  city  of  Greensboro  of  today — the  paved  streets  and 
sidewalks,  the  fine  public  schools,  the  superb  fire  department,  the 
beautiful  cemetery,  the  water  works  and  electric  lights,  and  the  grand 
progressive  spirit  and  public  energy  of  our  citizens,  are  as  much  the 
fruit  of  the  mental  and  physical  labors  of  Judge  Schenck  and  the 
result  of  his  tireless  energy  and  force  of  character  as  are  all  the  evi- 
dences of  industry  and  devotion  shown  by  the  restoration  of  the  Guil- 
ford Battleground.  Before  these  things  came  under  his  controlling 
influence  we  had  a  town  noted  for  inertness  and  lack  of  public  improve- 
ments, and  Guilford  Battleground  and  its  illustrious  dead  had  about 
passed  out  of  tradition  and  local  recollection.  The  unselfishness 
and  public  pride  thus  exhibited  are  so  rarely  seen,  that  our  people 
should  be  reminded  of  them,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  attempt  to 
arouse  the  spirit  of  emulation. ' ' 

What  a  proud  summary  is  this  of  the  modest  and  unselfish 
labors  of  one  great  public-spirited  citizen !  His  public  spirit 
was  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  his  adopted  home.  It  was  as 
broad  as  the  State  itself,  and  was  devoted  also  to  the  vindica- 
tion of  North  Carolina  and  her  soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary 
War.  His  book,  "North  Carolina— 1780- '81",  is  the  result  of 
long,  patient,  self-sacrificing  labor  and  research.  "The  neg- 
lected, though  admitted  war-time  glory  of  North  Carolina  in 
her  achievements  at  Cowpens  and  King 's  Mountain,  is  luminous 
from  the  touch  of  his  pen.  Guilford  is  transferred  from  an 
obscure  disgrace  to  its  rightful  rank  as  a  splendid  victory  in 


result",  the  conduct  of  the  militia  vindicated,  and  the  claim 
established  that  North  Carolina  riflemen  from  Wilkes,  Surry, 
Stokes,  Forsyth,  and  (luilford,  "were  the  very  last  soldiers  to 
leave  this  field  of  battle". 

Henry  Cabot  LodiJ^e  in  his  "Life  of  Washington",  says:  "It 
was  a  sharp  and  bloody  fio'ht;  the  British  had  the  advantage, 
and  Greene  abandoned  the  field,  bringing  off  his  army  in  good 
order.  Cornwallis,  on  his  part,  had  suffered  so  heavily,  how- 
ever, that  his  victory  turned  to  ashes.  On  the  18th  he  was  in 
full  retreat,  with  Greene  in  hot  pursuit."  The  author  speaks 
of  this  battle  with  tlu^  movements  that  followed  it,  as  altering 
"the  whole  aspect  of  the  war";  and  such  seems  now  to  be 
generally  conceded.  Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  but  for  the 
labors  of  Judge  Schenck,  this  battle  would  have  been  consid- 
ered by  many  a  repi'oach,  instead  of  a  pride  to  North  Carolina  ? 
A  man  who,  by  untiring  labor  and  unselfish  devotion  has 
reversed  such  an  erroneous  but  conunon  verdict,  so  deeply 
affecting  the  honor  of  his  State,  in  what  is  regarded  as  the 
great  pivotal  event  in  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  world's  strug- 
gles for  independence,  is  a  patriot  deserving  not  only  this 
monument,  but  a  lofty  and  enduring  place  in  the  history  of 
North  Carolina.  lie  has  dispelled  the  cloud  that  has  so  long 
hovered  over  her,  and  another  jewel  is  glittering  upon  her 
already  richly-decorated  brow. 

But  the  work  of  Judge  Schenck  did  not  stop  here.  AVhen  he 
came  to  Gi'censboro,  it  is  said  that  out  of  a  population  of 
three  thousand  people  he  could  not  find  a  half-dozen  persons 
who  could  point  out  to  him  the  scene  of  the  battle.  A  greater 
part  of  the  land  was  ' '  a  tangled  wilderness  of  briars,  old  field 
pines,  broom  sedge,  and  every  species  of  wild  gro^vth  which 
comes  up  on  old  worn-out  fields",  the  remaining  part  being 
neglected  forest.  The  ancient  roads  leading  through  the  battle- 
field had  been  abandoned,  and  there  was  nothing  to  mark  the 
scene  of  the  memorable  conflict.  On  one  of  his  frequent  visits 
here  (the  distance  from  Greensboro  being  only  four  or  five 
miles).  Judge  Schenck  conceived  the  idea  of  purchasing  the 
battlefield, and  before  returning  home  bargained  forSOacres  of 
it  from  one  Emsly  Sikes,  at  $10  per  acre.  Afterwards  he  pur- 
chased twenty  acres  more  of  the  Dennis  heirs,  at  twenty  dollars 
an  acre.  Considering  the  character  of  the  land  and  the  enor- 
mous price,  "No  consideration"  says  his  report  "was  extended 
to  the  sentiment  which  underlaid  the  object  of  the  purchase". 
Other  land  was  afterwards  acquired,  and  the  "Guilford  Battle 
Ground  Company"  now  has  the  title  to  it  all.     The  charter  of 

10 


this  Company  was  obtained  in  1887,  and  it  was  oro;anized  on 
the  6th  day  of  May,  1887,  by  J.  W.  Scott,  David  Schenck, 
Julius  A.  Gray,  D.  W.  C.  Benbow,  and  Thomas  B.  Keogh, 
Judge  Schenck  being  elected  president,  Mr.  Scott  treasurer, 
and  Mr.  Keogh  secretary.  These  patriotic  incorporators 
deserve  the  gratitude  of  the  State  for  the  substantial  aid  and 
enthusiastic  encouragement  they  gave  the  president  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  noble  work.  Shares  of  stock  were  issued, 
and  subscribed  for  by  the  citizens  of  Greensboro  and  of  other 
parts  of  the  State,  and  soon  enough  money  was  raised  to  pay 
for  the  land  and  leave  a  moderate  surplus  in  the  treasury. 
This  was  used  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  the  land  of  brush 
and  old  pines,  filling  up  gullies,  and  other  work,  until  the  field 
was  developed  in  a  very  similar  condition  to  what  it  was  in 
1781.  There  has  been  but  small  aid  from  the  State,  and  this 
remarkable  development  we  witness  today  is  largely  due  to  the 
contributions  of  patriotic  citizens. 

In  November  of  that  year  ( 1887 ) ,  so  indefatigable  had  been 
the  efforts  of  the  president,  that  the  Company  passed  a  resolu- 
tion of  thanks  for  the  "zeal,  diligence,  and  fidelity  with  which 
he  had  discharged  the  trust  committed  to  him  and  his  untiring 
efforts  for  the  success  of  the  patriotic  enterprise  in  which  we 
are  engaged". 

The  first  celebration  was  on  the  5th  of  May,  1888,  and  there 
were  fully  fifteen  thousand  people  present.  The  president 
delivered  an  address  on  the  battle  of  Guilford  Court  House, 
and  in  vindication  of  the  North  Carolina  militia.  This  after- 
wards formed  a  part  of  his  famous  book. 

To  show  how  much  his  great  work,  both  as  a  writer  and  as  a 
restorer  of  the  battlefield  was  appreciated,  I  will  quote  from  the 
response  of  the  Governor  of  the  State.  It  was  that  noble  old 
hero,  whose  memory  all  North  Carolinians  delight  to  honor 
and  cherish,  Alfred  M.  Scales.  Among  other  things,  he  said: 
"The  battleground  itself  has  been  neglected  and  left  without 
a  monument  to  mark  the  spot,  save  its  desolation.  It  has  been 
reserved  for  my  distinguished  friend.  Judge  Schenck,  the 
orator  of  the  day,  more  distinoniished  than  ever  before,  to 
uncover  the  truth  of  history  and  tell  the  tale  of  this  battle  as  it 
was  actually  fought.  He  it  was,  that  w^hile  a  comparative 
stranger  to  our  people,  though  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  forming  the  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Com- 
pany, to  purchase  and  adorn  the  grounds.  He  it  was  who 
raised  the  money  that  was  necessary,  contributing  a  large  share 
thereof  himself,  to  investigate  the  truth  of  history,  and  he  it  is 

11 


that  by  patient  and  wide  research  and  months  of  incessant 
labor  collected  the  evidence  from  friends  and  foes,  at  home  and 
abroad,  which  has  enabled  him  to  wipe  out  forever  the  stain 
that  rested  upon  our  home  militia.  In  the  name  of  the  descend- 
ants of  these  brave  men.  in  the  name  of  our  irreat  State,  I  thank 
him  for  this  great  work." 

In  asking'  for  a  copy  of  the  address  for  publication,  he  wrote  : 
"I  heard  today  with  profound  satisfaction  your  noljle  and 
complete  vindication  of  North  Carolina  militia  who  fought  at 
the  battle  of  Guilford.  For  years  these  brave  volunteers  have 
rested  under  charges  that  dishonored  them  and  were  a  source 
of  mortification  to  the  people  of  the  State.  Today  the  stigma 
is  Aviped  out,  and  henceforth  they  will  stand  in  history  as  men 
who  fought  bravely  and  most  efficiently  for  the  cause  of  xVmeri- 
can  independence,  and  did  not  retire  from  the  field  until  they 
did  so  in  accordance  with  the  orders  of  General  Greene  him- 
self." 

At  the  time  of  this  meeting  but  two  monuments  had  l)een 
erected,  the  first  an  unpretentious  one  donated  by  those  puljlic- 
spirited  gentlemen,  ^Messrs.  Galliard  and  Huske,  quarrymen.  of 
Kernersville,  Forsyth  County.  It  marks  the  spot  where  Cap- 
tain Arthur  Forbis  fell,  mortally  wounded,  and  bears  an 
inscription  in  honor  of  this  noble  patriot.  The  other  was  pre- 
pared by  the  State  under  the  direction  of  Governor  Scales. 
This  pyramid  of  granite  blocks  beginning  with  a  base  of  five 
feet  square^  and  running  up  to  the  height  of  nine  feet,  is  known 
as  the  "Battle  Monument",  and  on  it  is  inscribed  "Guilford 
Battle  Ground,  Thursday,  March  the  15th,  1781. ' '  Since  1888 
there  have  been  regular  annual  celebrations. 

In  1889  Governor  Vance  delivered  the  address  and  received 
an  ovation  "never  seen  before".  In  1891  Honorable  Kemp  P. 
Battle,  LL.D.,  delivered  an  address  on  the  life  and  character  of 
General  Jethro  Sumner,  one  of  the  greatest  North  Carolina 
soldiers  of  the  Kevolution,  whose  remains  had  been  removed  to 
the  battlefield  at  the  expense  of  the  State  and  a  monument 
erected  over  them.  In  the  same  year  a  monument  was  erected 
over  the  remains  of  Captain  Tate,  which  had  been  exhumed 
near  New  Garden  (where  he  fell  in  the  early  part  of  the  battle), 
and  removed  for  re-interment  in  this  consecrated  ground.  Two 
years  afterwards,  the  remains  of  Captain  John  Daves,  of  New 
Bern,  who  belonged  to  the  North  Carolina  Continental  line, 
and  who  was  promoted  for  gallantry  at  Entaw  Springs,  were 
removed  here,  and  a  tomb  erected  over  them. 

12 


The  generosity  of  "William  P.  Clyde  and  Leonidas  Springs 
had  supplied  handsome  pavilions  over  the  springs  that  now 
bear  their  names.  A  museum  had  been  erected,  the  repository 
of  many  interesting  relies  of  the  battle.  In  1892,  the  beautiful 
Lake  Wilfong  was  constructed,  and  the  annual  address  deliv- 
ered by  Associate  Justice  Clark  of  the  Supreme  Court,  on  the 
Life  and  Service  of  the  illustrious  William  R.  Davie,  a  gallant 
participant  in  the  battle,  and  afterwards  Governor  of  the  State, 
founder  of  the  University,  and  Minister  to  France.  In  Octo- 
ber of  the  same  year  the  handsome  jMaryland  Monument,  in 
honor  of  the  intrepid  soldiers  of  that  State  (who  with  the  men 
of  Delaware,  "The  Blue  Hen's  Chickens",  won  immortal 
renown  for  their  magnificent  courage),  was  unveiled,  the  pre- 
sentation address  being  delivered  by  Professor  Edward  Gra- 
ham Daves,  of  Baltimore,  which  was  responded  to  by  Professor 
E.  A.  Alderman.  All  of  this  had  been  done  before  the  fourth 
of  July,  1893,  the  date  of  my  last  visit  to  these  grounds.  ]\Iany 
monuments  have  been  erected,  celebrations  had,  and  addresses 
made  since  then,  but  the  leading  spirit  of  all  this  wonderful 
restoration  and  creation,  in  failing  health  and  with  but  little 
hope  of  surviving  another  year,  welcomed  the  celebration  of 
1893  as  the  crowning  event  of  his  life.  With  the  noble  assist- 
ance of  those  patriotic  co-incorporators,  whose  names  I  have 
mentioned,  and  the  support  of  the  people  to  whom  he  had  so 
eloquently  appealed,  he  felt  that  he  had  accomplished  the  great 
work  to  which  he  had  dedicated  so  many  days  of  his  life. 
While  the  sun  seemed  to  be  setting  for  him,  he  could  see  its 
rising  splendor  gilding  Avith  a  new  glory  the  history  of  North 
Carolina  and  her  soldiers  in  the  great  Revolution. 

That  generous  and  patriotic  son  of  North  Carolina,  Ex-Gov- 
ernor Thomas  M.  Holt,  has  erected  yonder  beautiful  and  impos- 
ing monument,  known  now  as  ' '  The  Holt  jMonument ' '.  It  was 
in  honor  of  the  North  Carolina  Riflemen  under  Major  Joseph 
Winston,  Major  Jesse  Franklin,  and  others,  who  were,  as  we 
have  said,  the  last  to  leave  the  field  of  battle.  It  was  to  make 
good  this  claim  and  to  receive  this  massive  memorial  that  Judge 
Schenck  had  prepared  a  most  admirable  address.  Against  the 
advice  of  physicians  and  friends  he  arose  from  a  bed  of  sick- 
ness and  appeared  here  to  perform  this  great  and  apparently 
closing  duty.  It  was  "the  most  impressive,  elaborate,  and 
wonderful  celebration"  he  said,  of  all  that  had  preceded  it, 
and  "thousands  and  thousands  of  citizens  assembled  to  wit- 
ness the  splendid  ceremonies ' '.     Well  do  I  remember  that  bril- 

13 


liant  scene  and  the  distin.o-uished  men  who  were  present. 
Among  these  were  the  munificent  Ex-Governor  Holt,  Governor 
Carr,  Judge  Chirk.  Judge  Graves,  Judge  Dick,  Bishop  Ches- 
hire, Dr.  Kemp  P.  Batth^  Dr.  George  T.  Winston,  Colonel 
Julius  Gray,  Colonel  (now  Judge)  Boyd,  "Sir.  R.  M.  Douglass, 
now  a  Justice  of  our  Supreme  Court,  Honorable  C.  B.  Watson, 
Mr.  Scott,  and  Colonel  Keogh.  Many  of  these  have  crossed 
over  the  river  and  now  rest  in  the  spirit  land.  Here,  too, 
as  master  of  ceremonies,  was  that  gallant  old  soldier  and 
patriotic  son  of  North  Carolina,  Colonel  Joseph  M.  IMorehead. 
I  am  thankful  that  he  is  here  toda}-,  and  I  pray  that  his  life 
may  long  be  spared  to  assist  in  preserving  and  beautifying 
this  battleground,  towards  which  he  has  already  contributed  so 
nobly. 

He  is  now  the  president  of  this  Company,  and  right  worthily 
does  he  bear  the  mantle  of  his  noble  predecessor.  Judge 
Schenck.  From  the  beginning  he  has  aided  with  heart  and 
soul  in  the  good  work,  and  from  1896  he  has  lent  his  active  aid 
in  securing  the  continuance  of  the  State's  subscription,  in 
continuing  the  annual  celebrations,  and  in  the  erection  of  every 
monument  except  that  of  Oak  Ridge.  Let  us  not  forget  our 
patriotic  friend  and  those  who  have  acted  with  him.  All  honor 
and  gratitude  to  those  generous  spirits. 

After  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  T.  H.  Pritchard,  Judge 
Schenck  was  introduced  and  most  enthusiastically  received  by 
the  vast  assemblage.  "He  arose"  (I  quote  from  an  intelligent 
reporter.  Mr.  Howard  A.  Banks),  "leaning  upon  his  long  staft". 
For  the  first  time  in  four  weeks,  he  said,  he  had  left  a  sick 
chamber.  There  was  a  stoop  in  his  great,  broad  shoulders, 
and  feebleness  in  his  step  as  he  came  to  the  front  of  the  plat- 
form. He  asked  that  he  might  be  excused  if  he  should  break 
down  before  he  finished.  But  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
there  was  no  danger  of  this.  The  old  lion  was  aroused.  As  he 
progressed  in  his  defense  of  the  much-slandered  North  Carolina 
troops  who  participated  in  the  fight  at  Guilford  Court  House, 
he  forgot  that  he  was  a  sick  man.  At  the  fii*st  mention  of  the 
criminal  injustice  done  to  our  soldiers  in  this  engagement  by 
historians,  a  feeling  of  righteous  indignation  pervaded  the 
whole  being  of  the  speaker.  It  sent  the  blood  tingling  to  his 
very  finger  tips,  it  brought  the  fiery  flash  to  his  eye.  There 
was  no  longer  the  stoop  in  his  shoulders,  the  halt  in  his  gait. 
In  thunder  tones  he  denounced  the  slanderers."  He  was 
exhausted  towards  the  conclusion  of  his  eloquent  and  powerful 

14 


address,  and  there  never  was  anything;  more  deeply  pathetic 
than  when,  looking  once  more  over  the  scene  of  years  of  conse- 
crated labor,  and  feeling  that  his  long-cherished  hopes  had  been 
accomplished,  he  exclaimed  in  tremulous  tones,  "Lord,  now 
lettest  Thou  Thy  servant  depart  in  peace ' '.  What  wonder  that 
the  hearts  of  the  multitude  were  touched  as  never  before,  and 
that  they  silently  responded,  ' '  Well  done,  thou  good  and  faith- 
ful servant ' ',  ere  the  welkin  rang  with  cheers  for  this  grandly 
patriotic  man ! 

Other  addresses  were  made  by  distinguished  gentlemen  pres- 
ent, all  of  whom  spoke  of  his  great  work  and  expressed  their 
gratitude  in  unmeasured  terms.  The  Right  Reverend  Bishop 
Cheshire  said  that  he  came  ' '  also  to  honor  a  man  whose  generos- 
ity has  made  him  the  champion  of  the  unknown  dead,  and  who 
has  spent  not  only  money,  but  the  energies  and  resources  of  his 
very  life,  in  vindicating  the  reputation  of  our  State.  I  have 
felt  myself  stirred  to  a  more  earnest  love  of  my  country  as  I 
listened  to  the  eloquent  words  of  Judge  Schenck,  and  saw  how 
his  heart  throbbed  and  his  eye  kindled  with  ardor  in  behalf  of 
those  who  for  a  hundred  years  had  found  no  friend  or  advocate 
among  us  all." 

Through  much  suffering  Judge  Schenck  lingered  in  steadily- 
declining  health  until  the  26th  day  of  August,  1902,  when  he 
passed  through  the  dark  and  silent  valley  to  the  shining  heights 
beyond.  During  this  period  his  interest  in  this  great  work 
of  the  battleground  never  for  a  moment  relaxed,  and  it  was 
with  the  consciousness  of  a  great  duty  performed  that  he 
entered  upon  his  eternal  rest.  The  whole  State  mourned  his 
loss,  and  many  were  the  eulogies  pronounced  upon  his  life  and 
character  by  the  press  and  the  bar.  In  these  he  is  declared  to 
be  a  great  jurist,  a  most  patriotic  citizen,  a  devoted  husband 
and  parent,  and  more  than  all,  a  sincere  Christian. 

At  an  annual  meeting  of  the  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Com- 
pany on  March  16th,  1903,  resolutions  were  adopted  in  com- 
memoration of  "its  distinguished  and  beloved  president,  who 
was  its  originator  and  creator,  to  whose  active  brain,  tireless 
energy,  and  ardent  patriotism,  this  company  is  largely 
indebted  for  the  grand  work  already  accomplished  in  vindicat- 
ing the  truth  of  history  and  the  fair  name  of  North  Carolina, 
and  in  reclaiming  and  perpetuating  the  historic  spot  on  which 
was  fought  the  pivotal  battle  of  the  great  Revolution". 

After  paying  a  glowing  tribute  to  his  distinguished  abilities, 
it  was  further  resolved,  ' '  That  this  Company  desires  to  record 
in  permanent  form  its  indebtedness  for  and  its  appreciation  of 

15 


his  great  and  unselfish  services,  and  to  proclaim  itself  the 
crownintx  work  (^f  his  busy  life  and  an  enduring  monument  to 
his  memory. 

"That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Company  that  a  monument  be 
erected  to  his  memory  on  the  field  of  the  Battle  of  (xuilford 
Court  House. 

It  is  in  pursuance  of  these  rt^soluticuis  that  this  monument 
is  unveiled  here  today.  It  is  a  fitting  tribute  to  one  of  the 
most  patriotic  of  North  Carolinians,  and  the  Company  has  well 
performed  its  ])ious  duty.  Beautiful  as  it  is,  and  enduring  as 
it  may  be,  it  is.  however,  unnecessary  in  order  to  preserve  his 
memory.  "The  memory  of  us",  says  Pliny,  "will  last  if  we 
have  deserved  it  in  our  lives".  Tested  by  this,  the  memory  of 
David  Schenck  will  be  forever  cherished  in  the  history  of  this 
State.  This  restored  battlefield  and  his  great  book  in  vindi- 
cation of  the  men  who  fought  here,  have  indissolubly  connected 
his  name  with  one  of  the  greatest  events  of  the  Revolution,  and 
are  memorials  which  will  live  always  in  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen.  Rest  in  peace,  dear,  faithful  friend.  Your  name 
and  your  work  will  never  be  forgotten  by  Xorth  Carolinians. 

As  I  have  said,  one  of  the  strongest  hopes  we  have  of  preserv- 
ing this  great  republic  is  in  the  cultivation  of  the  spirit  of 
patriotism ;  and  how  can  this  be  lietter  done  than  by  the 
study  of  the  heroic  devotion  of  our  revolutionary  soldiers,  and 
the  marking  and  adornment  of  the  scenes  of  their  struggles? 
These  are  true  fountains  of  patriotism.  It  is  in  this  way  that 
we  can  understand  and  appreciate  the  self-sacrificing  spirit 
that  won  our  independence  and  established  this  government ; 
and  it  is  in  this  way  that  we  may  l)e  inspired  by  a  similar  spirit 
to  preserve  them.  We  have  here  a  grand  example  of  the  patri- 
otic citizen;  and  if  all  men  were  imbued  with  this  spirit  of 
devotion  to  the  principles  of  the  Revolution,  then,  no  matter 
how  threatening  the  storms  may  be  in  the  future,  no  harm  can 
come  to  the  Republic. 

It  has  been  said,  and  truly  said,  that  North  Carolina  makes 
history  but  never  writes  it.  Never  was  there  such  an  instance 
of  neglect,  and  never  was  there  a  richer  field  to  explore.  We 
have  seen  how  long  this  State  has  been  misrepresented  and 
slandered  as  to  the  conduct  of  her  soldiers  on  this  battlefield. 
For  a  century  it  has  been  suffered  to  remain  under  this  dis- 
grace. We  have  seen  how  her  soldiers  have  been  vindicated  in 
this  great  and  decisive  event  of  the  long  and  bloody  struggle. 
But  in  addition  to  this,  and  apart  from  the  brilliant  courage  of 
her  sons  at  Moore's  Creek,  King's  Mountain,  Cowpens,  and  in 

16 


other  battles,  there  are  two  other  events  which  crown  old  North 
Carolina  with  unfading  glory,  and  should  inspire  every  heart 
with  pride  in  her  history.  They  place  her  even  ahead  of  her 
illustrious  sisters  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence. 
First,  it  was  her  people  who  committed  the  first  overt  act  in 
assertion  of  the  principles  of  the  Revolution.  There  may  have 
been  elsewhere  a  few  instances  of  mob  violence  against  individ- 
uals, but  here  was  the  armed  and  organized  militia  of  two 
counties  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  commanded  by  such  men  as 
Colonel  Waddell  and  Colonel  Ashe,  openly  defying  the  English 
sloop  of  war,  Diligence,  of  twenty  guns,  as  she  came  to  anchor 
off  the  town  of  Brunswick  on  the  Cape  Fear.  They  notified 
the  Commander  that  they  would  resist  the  landing  of  stamps 
and  would  fire  on  anyone  attempting  it.  This  was  on  Novem- 
ber 20th,  1765.  "Here  was  treason,  open  and  flagrant,  and  in 
the  broad  light  of  day;  treason  armed  and  led  by  the  most 
distinguished  soldier  of  the  province,  and  the  Speaker  of  the 
Assembly."  "This",  says  that  distinguished  North  Carolin- 
ian, the  Honorable  George  Davis,  "was  more  than  ten  years 
before  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  more  than  nine 
years  before  the  battle  of  Lexington,  and  nearly  eight  years 
before  the  Boston  '  Tea  Party '.  The  destruction  of  the  tea  was 
done  in  the  night  by  men  in  disguise.  And  history  blazons  it, 
and  New  England  boasts  of  it,  and  the  fame  of  it  is  worldwide. 
But  this  other  act,  more  gallant  and  daring,  done  in  open  day 
by  well-known  men,  with  arms  in  their  hands,  and  under  the 
King 's  flag — who  remembers,  or  who  tells  of  it  ? " 

It  is  hardly  to  be  credited  that  this  act,  so  illustrative  of  the 
advanced  spirit  of  liberty  in  North  Carolina,  and  which  places 
her  far  in  advance  of  the  Revolution,  should  not  be  blazoned 
forth  to  all  the  world.  But  so  it  is.  As  Mr.  Davis  says,  ' '  who 
remembers  it,  or  who  tells  of  it  ? " 

The  second  great  event  is  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of 
Independence.  The  declaration  drawn  by  Jefferson  and  made 
on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1776,  was  the  declaration  of  the  Conti- 
nental Congress.  It  was  on  the  part  of  all  the  Colonies,  and 
the  anniversary  of  the  day  of  its  adoption  is  justly  a  great  day 
of  national  celebration.  It  is  nevertheless  a  fact  to  be  proud 
of,  and  of  itself  places  North  Carolina  in  the  foreground,  that 
some  months  before,  on  May  20th,  1775,  immediately  upon 
hearing  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  the  patriots  of  Mecklen- 
burg County  made  their  famous  declaration.  In  the  language 
of  Senator  Boutwell  in  his  address  on  ' '  The  Progress  of  Ainer- 

17 


ican  Independence",  before  the  New  York  Historical  Society. 
"The  citizens  of  INIecklenbnrg  County,  North  Carolina,  had 
anticipated  the  declaration  of  Jefferson  and  in  some  respects 
its  exact  langnasre.  and  yet  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  the 
substance  of  the  document  was  known  to  any  member  of  Con- 
g-res, and  there  is  much  evidence  tliat  neither  ]\Ir.  JeffVrson  nor 
any  one  of  his  colleagues  of  the  Committee  was  aware  of  its 
existence".  What  a  glorious  record  is  this  which  we  can 
truthfully  present  to  our  posterity,  and  how  every  heart 
re-echoes  the  words  of  the  immortal  Lee,  "God  bless  old 
North  Carolina". 

Yes,  let  her  true  history  be  written,  and  the  old  State  will 
come  forth  resplendent  with  revolutionary  glory.  Let  her 
true  history  be  written,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  our  revolu- 
tionary fathers  were  worthy  ancestors  of  the  men.  who,  under 
the  banners  of  Lee  and  Jackson,  and  other  great  leaders,  filled 
the  world  with  wonder  and  admiration  by  their  matchless 
deeds  of  arms  and  heroic  devotion.  Let  her  true  history  be 
written,  and  there  will  rise  in  the  hearts  of  her  children  a  spirit 
of  patriotism  which  will  guard  and  maintain  the  great  prin- 
ciples of  republican  government  which  underlie  our  consti- 
tution. 

Let  us,  my  friends,  as  we  leave  this  consecrated  ground, 
resolve  to  devote  our  minds  and  hearts  to  this  great  end.  Let 
us  vindicate  the  capacity  of  man  for  self-government:  and 
wdien  we  have  done  this,  we  shall  have  furnished  a  light  and  a 
hope  to  all  nations  to  guide  them  in  the  ways  of  peace,  justice, 
and  harmony ;  and  we  may  look  forward  with  confidence  to 
the  time  when  armies  will  be  disbanded,  when  the  "war 
drums"  will  throb  no  longer,  "and  the  battlefiags  be  furled — 
in  the  Parliament  of  man,  the  Federation  of  the  World". 


1781^1904 
Program  of  the  Annual  Celebration 

AT  THE 

GUILFORD   BATTLE  GROUND 

GREENSBORO,   N.   C. 
MONDAY.    JULY   4.    1904 


"The  Life  and  Character  of  Judge  David  Schenck" 

HONORABLE  JAMES  E.  SHEPHERD 

Orator    of    the    Day 


The  Procession  will  form  at  the  President's  cottage  at  10.30 
a.  m.  in  the  following  order : 

MARSHAL  AND  ASSISTANTS 

PROXIMITY  BAND 

GATE  CITY  GUARDS 

MAJOR  JOSEPH  M.  MOREHEAD, 

President  of  the  Guilford  Battle  Ground  Company, 

and 

JUDGE  SHEPHERD, 

Orator  of  the  day, 
with  ]\Irs.  Judge  Schenck  and  Miss  Schenck 

DAUGHTERS  OF  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION 

Chaplain,  Master  of  Ceremonies,  and  Distinguished  Guests,  in 

Carriages ; 

Directors  and  Stockholders  of  the  Battle  Ground  Company; 

Citizens  Generally. 

Procession  when  formed  will  move  to  the  Grand  Pavilion. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISER  AT  THE  ORAXDSTAXD. 
.Alcsic— "Arjieriea" By  the  Band 

PRAYER  BY  THE  CHAPLAIN, 

REV.  IIEXRY  \V.  BATTLE,  D.  D. 

ORATION. 

HONORABLE  JAMES  E.  SHEPHERD. 

SJTORT  SPEECHES  BY  GUESTS. 

.M IMC— "The  Old  X',.rtli  State.'' 


Proces.sion  to  hv  re-formod  and  march  to  tlie  ]Monunient  to 
Judge  Schenck.  tlien  to  be  unveiled. 

AD.JOURN  TO  DINNER. 

At  2.30  p.  m.  the  people  will  re-assemble  at  the  Grandstand 
recalled  by  music  by  the  band.  Addresses  wiW  be  delivered  by 
distinguished  visitors  from  different  sections  of  the  Union  on 
the  unveiling  of  the  patriotic  Marker  to  Generals  Washington 
and  Greene.     ' '  No  Xorth,  no  South. ' ' 

R.  D.  DOUGLAS, 

j\L\.STER  OF  Ceremonies. 


nM,S/.r°'''C.ATCHAPELI 


00036736425 


FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


Form  No.  A-368,  Rev.  8/95 


